Candle-making machine



R. GROSSMANN.

CANDLE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13. I922.

Patented July 25, 1922.

5 SHEETSSHEET l.

AT TURN EY.

R. GROSSMANN.

CANDLE MAKING MACHINE..

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, F922.

5 SHEETS-SH EET 2.

Patented July 25, 1922.

7 lHs EHTOR ATTORNEY.

R. GROSSMANN.

CANDLE MAKING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED APR.13, 1922.

Patented July 25, 1922.

l,%23,60&

5 SHEETSSHEET 3..

AT TURN EK R. GROSS/MANN.

CANDLE MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED APR. 13. 1922.

Patented July 25, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

R. GROSSII/IANN.

CANDLE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I3, 1922.

Patented July 25, 1922.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- BWENT'QR BY I 26w m A? TORHEY are,

aoann'r enossr/mnn', or sraaeusn, new ronmassren'on re 'rnn wrtn anannnn CANDLE COIBEFANY,OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIGN OENEWYQRQK.

CANDLE-MAKHTG MACHINE.

aaaeoe.

application filed April 13,

To all whom it. may concern.

Be it known that T, ROBERT GRossMANN, a subject of the German Republic,of Syracuse,

in the county of @nonda'ga, in the State of New York, have invented newand useful Improvements in Candle-Making Machines, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the manufacture of what is commonly known ashand-made candles and refers more particularly to a machine for cuttingand finishing the candles to the required size, form and color.

The main object is to provide a simple, compact and efficient machine ofthis character whereby the operations of cutting, forming and coloringmay be performed upon a relatively large number of candles at one andthe same time without removin them from the machine.

Uther objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machine will bebrought out in the following description.

In the'drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a fron elevation and a side elevationof a machine embodying the various features of my invention.

Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, a horizontal sectional view taken online- 3-3 Figure 2 and an ,enlarged vertical sectional view taken online4%, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan of a portion of the system of cuttersandunderlying support therefor.

.Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, longitudinal and transversesectional views taken on lines 6-6 and 7-7 Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through one side ofthe machine taken on line 8-8, Figure 2.

Figure 9 is an inner face view partly in section of the mechanism shownin Figure 8.

Figure 10- is a detail sectional view taken on line 10-10 Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical sectional View partly broken awaytaken on line 11-11 Figure 2. I

As illustrated, thismachine comprises a main supporting frame 1--adapted to rest upon the floor or other suitable sup- SpeeificationofLetters Patent.

Patented July 25, ii%2.

1922. semi No. statue.

port and provided with upright standards 2 secured to and rising somedistance above the ends of the frame -1- near the longitudinal centerthereof to form guides for a vertically movable super-structurepresently described.

The mainframe may be of any suitable construction or material but ispreferably rectangular in top plan and provided with corner posts orlegs -3-, upper and lower intermediate cross-bars 4, 5-, and -6-connecting the legs at one end and additional brace bars 7 and 8-connecting the front and rear legs, the bars -4 and -7 being disposed insubstan-.

tially the. same horizontal plane and forming the top ofthe mainsupporting frame.

The upright standards 2 preferably consist of angle irons -9- arrangedin pairs, one pair at each end ofthe machine, those of each pair beingrigidly secured by bolts or equivalent fastening means totheintermediate portions of the cross-bars 4-,--5 and 6 to form a unitarypart of the main supporting frame, said bars being disposed insubstantiallythe. same longitudinal vertical plane andhave their upperends connected by additional angle irons --'l0 riveted or otherwisesecured thereto lengthwise of the machine and together with the uprightangleirons -9- are disposed in transverse spaced relation to receivecertain parts of the operating mechanism for t e vertical reciprocatingunit hereinafter described.

' Uandl carrier.

A. carriage -11-- is reciprocally movable vertically along and upon theupright guides or standards -2- between the top of the mainframe -1- andupper brace bar 10- and comprises a pair of cross-heads -12 rigidlysecured to the opposite ends of a central lengthwise angle bar 13 andsupporting a pair of transversely extending angle bars -14- which arerigidly secured thereto and extend forwardly and rearwardly over theopposite ends of the top of the frame --1 just inside of the uprights-2-, said cross-heads being elongated vertically and slidably engagedwithv the inner faces of the upright bars -9- and are provided with ribs15-- Figure 8 projecting between. and in sliding engagement with theadjacent faces of said bars to hold the cross-heads in an uprightposition without interfering with their free vertical sliding movement.

These cross-bars 1 1- are disposed in substantially the same horizontalplane some distance below that of the lengthwise bar 13-- and areprovided at their ends with journal bearings -16 for receiving "andsupporting the opposite ends of a pair of cam shafts 17 having eccentricreduced ends --18- journal in said bearings and also provided at one endwith hand-wheels .-19- by which the cam shafts may be turnedindependently of each other.

These cam shafts extend forwardly and rearwardl across and to oppositesides of the uprig t' ides or standards -2-- in close proximity to theirsupporting bars --14- to form supporting-guides for the opposite ends ofa candle carrying supportinlgplate --20 of wood or other suitablematerial having a plurality of, in this instance four, lengthwise rowsof hooks 21-- in arallel transversely spaced relation and also in lonitudinally spaced relation to form a plurality of, in this instancetwelve, trans.- verse rows, said hooks being preferably secured to theunder side of the candle-supporting plate -20 for receiving acorresponding number of pendent candles --o I through the medium oftheir wicks a- Figures 1 and 2 preparatory-to cutting and finishing saidcandles ina manner hereinafter described.

"The plate --20 j with the previously formed candles attached thereto isbrought to the machine and placed with their ends loosely resting uponthe cam shafts 17-' which by reason of their eccentrically jourhaled endspindles --18 permit either end of the plate 20-- to be adjusted alimited distance vertically to bring the several candles-into properalinementwith their respective cutters and finishing dies hereinaftermore fully described, the transverse width of the candle-supportingplate being somewhat less than half the length of the cross-bars '14 sothat it may be supported wholly at the front or at the rear of thestandards --2- and is slidable along and upon said cam shafts beneaththe lengthwise bar 13 from one position to the other or from a positiondirectly over the cutters to a position directly over the finishin dies.

A pair of aiming bars 22 extends lengthwise of and upon the lowerhorizontal flanges of the transverse bars-M- from end to end thereof andare pivoted at -23- thereto to swing in horizontal planes, the otherends being provided with handles 24- b which they may be operated. Theinner edges of the intermediate portions of these alining bars areprovided with notches -25- arranged in uniformly spaced relationcorhorizontal plane just below the hooks -2l when the ends of the board'-20- are resting upon the cam shafts 1T and serve to engage theadjacent wicks a' and thereby to permit the board -'20--- to be properly7 positioned on the cam shafts forwardly and rearwardl for registeringthe candles with the under ying cutters and finishing dies.

In other words, these alining bars 22 may be used in conjunction withthe cam shafts 17 for properly positioning the board to cause itscandles to be properly alined first with the cutters and sequentiallywith the finishing dies as the carriage is lowered from its normal upposition as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A lengthwise rock shaft 26'- is loosely mounted at its ends in guideslots 27- on the cross-heads -12 and is provided intermediate its endswith a pair of radial arms 28 projecting in the same direction from oneside of the shaft for receiving and supportin a gage bar 29 which isrigidly secure to the free ends of said arms parallel with said rockshaft and extending from end to end of the machine between the cross--28 together with the gage bar -29 are normall disposed in a horizontalplane between t e lengthwise carriage bar 13- and cam shafts -17 inwhich position, the opposite ends of the rock shaft 26- rest in thelower end of the slots -27, the spacing of the arms '28-- and length ofthe bar -29 being adjusted to enable them to swing vertically betweenthe cam shafts 17-without friction therewith. One end of the rock shaft26 extends longitudinally beyond the corresponding standard -2 and isprovided with a crank arm 30- to which is fastened a cable 31- carryinga weight 32 by which the rock shaft and gage bar 29 are held in theirnormal positions.

. Secured to the rock shaft near the crank arm -31-- is a cam -33- whichis adapted to engage a stop pin 34 on the adjacent upri ht 2-,- when thecarriage approaches the imit of its downward movement for locking saidshaft against the action of the counter weight -32- and thereby swingingthe gage bar 29 downwardly from its lessees downwardly to aSubstantially vertical position by the engagement of. the cams 33 withthe pins -"34 p These pins -.34- are adjustable in diferent holes 3 5 inthe uprights 2-' for varying the lengths at which the can'- dles are to.be cut or rather for varying the period of downward movement of the gagebar.--29 during the 'descent of the carriage to the cutters and therebyto vary thelength of the candles so that those which are cut in eachoperation may be of the same length. That is, if the candles are to hecut togreater length, the pins will be; adjusted to superposed holes-35-while on the other hand, if they are to be shortened, the pins will beunderlying holes.

O'awiwge operating means.

The means for moving the carriage verti- 'cally consists, in thisinstance of a horizon- 36 'journaled in suitable bear-.

tal shaft ings 37 at the under side of the top of the main frame. +1-and provided at its outer end with a hand-wheel 38a nd at its inner endwith a drum --39 around which is-wound a cable '40 having one .endpassed over a sheave 41- and attached to-a weight-42 and its other endpassed under a separate sheave -43-- and thence upwardly over a pair ofsheaves -44' on the brace bar -10- and thence downwardly where it isattached to the lengthwise bar 13 of the carriage.

The weight 42 serves to counter ba l; ance the weight of the carriageand candle supported thereby while the hand-wheel.

38' serves as a means for operating and controlling the verticalmovement of the carriage through the medium of the cable.

amaze-meaty dedide.

A substantially fiat metal plate -'-45-.- is secured in a horizontalposition to the top of the main frame 1-- to extend from end to endthereof at ione side of the u rights -'-2- and is provided with a series0 downwardly tapered openings 46- therethrough size to permit t e lowerlarger ends of the unfinished candles to readily pass therethrou h whenthe carriage with the can-.

dles t ereon is lowered, said openings being arranged in a series of, inthis instance four, lengthwise rows with a series of, in this instancetwelve, holes to a row, the lengthwise rows being arranged in paralleladjusted to the spaced relation while the transverse rows are alsoarranged in parallel spaced relation, the posit-ions corresponding tothose of the candles when the latter are properly suspended on thecarriage.

A series of, in this instance twelve, shearing blades -48-' are securedby screws -49+ in suitable recesses in the upper face of the plate atone and the same side of each transverse row of openings -46 and eachplate-is rovided with a series of semi-circular .cuttlng edges --50 reistering with and forming the correspondlng sides of the main candle-openings of the corresponding lengthwise rows. J A series of, in-thisinstance four, cutting blades -5 1 are movable longitudinally across andupon the upper face of the plate -4 5 in guide ways --52' and arerovided with lengthwise rows of openlngs 53 movable into and out ofregistrationor cutting ofi the lower ends of the candles which mayproject into the openings -46- when the candle carriage is lowered.

The several shearing blades 51 are connected .at one end bya yoke bar 55which in turn is connected by a link --56 to one end of an operatinglever -57, the latter being fulcrumed or pivoted at -58- to the upperface of the plate 55 near one end thereof and is provided with a handle59 by which it may be operated to reciprocate the, several blades 51,simultaneously to and from their cutting positions.

Candle base finishing.

Suitable means is provided for producing a tapered finished to the endsof the candles as they have been cut tothe desired len h and for thispurpose is provided a hol ow die-supporting member 60- adapted to beheated from any suitable source of heating supply and is preferablysquare in cross section and provided on each face with a set of dies-6l-- corresponding in number and position to the number. and positionof the candles on the plate -20 when the latter no v with the candlesthereon cut to the required length is shifted to the position directlyover the heated die carrier 60, the dies of .each set being providedwith tapering sockets --62- for receiving and finishing base ends of thecandles as they are lowered into the dies by the downward movement ofthe carriage 11..

The sockets 62 of each set of dies are of slightly different diametersfor producing corresponding tapers of the candles, which may be engagedtherein.

The carriage 60-- is provided with co 35- to rock the gage, bar 29downaxial and trunnions --63, j ournaled in suit-,

able bearings -64 on the main frame -1 at the side of the uprights -2-opposite that of the cutter-supporting plate -45- whereby the diecarrier may be rotated to present either set of dies at the top forreceiving the lower ends of the candle whenthe carriage is lowered, oneat least of the trunnions being hollow for connectlon with a source ofsteam supply or other heating agent whereby the dies -61 may be kept ina heated condition when the machine is in use.

The bases of the several dies .62- are bolted or otherwise secured tothe corresponding sides of the carrier 60 and are provided Witli radialchannels or outlets V65- to permit any excess melted candle material toescape therethrough into regis tering channels 66- in the adjacentsurface of the carrier, thereby permitting a smooth finish of the bottomof the candles.

The upper'ends of the sockets '-62-- of the several dies are'alsoprovided with lateral passages 67-'- to permit the escape of any excessmelted candle material while the bases of the candles are being moldedin the dies.

In some instances, the candles are colored by dipping them into a vatcontaining the coloring matter and for this purpose, I have provided theframe i-i with an extension.

-1- constitutin a track upon which is mounted a vat fi containing acoloring matter and rovided with wheels bmovable along t e track to andfrom a position directly over the die carrier 60- and of sufiicientinterior dimensions to receive the entire series of candles, which maybe suspended from the supporting board or plate --20 as the latter havebeen cut to the desired length and their lower ends tapered to thedesired finish;

Operation.

The uncut candles which have been previously formed by repeated dippingin the molten wax or other'material are brought to the cutting andfinishing machine susered by means of a hand-wheel -38- and cable 40-until the cams 33- engage the stop pins --34i in the proper holes wardlyto the proper position for citingv across the upper ends of the candleswhereupon if the upper ends of the candles are not in exact alinementwith the gage bar, the ends of the candle-supporting board may beadjusted up or down as required by means of the cam shafts -17- toafi'ect the desired alinement at which time, the lower ends of thecandles will have entered their corresponding openings in the cuttingboard The cutting blades 5lare then operated by means of the hand-lever-57-- to sever the lower ends of the candles from .the main body,thereby cutting them all the same length, the severed through theopenings --4 immediately following this cutting operation, the carriagewith the cut candles portions falling V thereon is then raised and thecandle-supheated instantly melt the contacting por-' tions of thecandles and produce the desired tapered thereon, the surplus wax orother candle material readily flowing ofi' throu h the passages ---65--and -67- leaving t e ends of the candles'smooth while their ex- I tremelower faces are flattened by contact with the bottoms of the sockets oradjacent portions of the heated carrier.

After this taper finishin operation, the carriage with the candles tereon is a ain raised and if it is desired to color the can les, the vat--B-- containing the coloring matter may be moved to a position beneaththe candles or directly over the die carrier --60-- whereupon thecarriage may be lowered to dip the candles in the coloring matter in thevat, the carriage being then raised and the vat B- withdrawn frombeneath the same while the board with the finished candles thereon maythen be removed to per= mit a repetition of the operations previouslydescribed.

What I claim is:

1. In a candle making machine, the combination of a candlecutting'device having a multiplicity of cutters, a candle carrier havingmeans for supportin a multiplicity of candles in alinements withthecutters, means for operating the carrier to bring the candles intoposition to be cut by the cutting device, and means for operating thecutters into cutting engagement with the candles.

iso

' openings therein for receiving one end the candles, acandle-supporting carriage movable toward and from said plate to causethe candles to enter the openin .therein 'and a cutter for severing saiden a A of the candles while in .the openings.

3. In a candle cutting and finishing machine, the combination of ahorizontal shearing plate having a multiplicity of openings, avertically movable carriage, means on the carriage for suspending amultiplicity of candlesin vertical alinement with the openings; meansfor raising and lowering the carriage to causethe lower ends of thecandles to move into and out of the openings in the shearing plate, anda cutter cooperatin with the shearing plate for severing the Iower endsof the candles while in the openings.

t, In a candle cut-ting and finishing machine, the combination of ahorizontal shearing plate having a multiplicity of openin s, avertically movable carriage, means on t e carriage for suspending amultiplicity of candles in vertical alinment with the opencandlesinvertical alinement with the openings, means for raising and loweringthe carriage to cause the lower ends of the candles tov move into andout of the openings in the shearing plate, a cutter cooperating with theshearing plate for severing the lower ends of the candles While in theopenings, and means on the carriage for adjljilsting thecandle-supporting means vertica y. i i

5. In a candle-cutting and finishing ma.- chine, the combination of ahorizontal shearing plate having a multiplicity of openings,

.ajvertically movable carriage, means on the carriage for suspending amultiplicity of ings, means for raising and lowering the carriage tocause the lower ends of the candles to. move into and out of theopenings in the shearing plate, a cutter cooperatin with the shearingplate for severing the Io openings,'and means on the carriage forengaging certain of the candle wicks to enable the supporting means tobe properly adjusted for alinmg the candles with their respectiveopenings in the cutter plate.

6. In a machine for cutting and finishing candles, the combination of ahorizontal cutter-supporting plate having a multiplicity of openingsarranged in lengthwise and I transverse rows, a carriage movablevertically toward and from said plate, means on the carriage forsuspending a multiplicity of candles in vertical alinement with saidopenings, said means including a candle supporting board and verticallyadjustable rests therefor, and cutters on said late coas operatingtherewithfor severing t e lower wer ends of the candles while'in theaeoa ends of the candles when the latter are lowfrom said cuttingdevice, means on the carriage for suspending a multiplicity of candlesin vertical alinement with said openings whereby the lowering of thecarriage will cause the lower ends of the candles to enter the openings,and means for operating the cutting device to sever, the ends of thecandles in the openin v 8. Ina candle cutting and finishin machine, thecombination of a cutting GVlCT having a multiplicity of verticalopenings, -a carriage movable vertically toward and from said cuttingdevice, means on the carriage for suspending a multiplicity of candlesin vertical alinement with said openings whereby the lowering of thecarriage Wlll cause the lower ends of the candles to enter the openings,means for operating the cutting device to sever the ends of the candlesin the openings, and a horizontal gage bar adjustable verticallyrelatively .to the carriage to determine the lowering movement of thecandles. into the openings ofthe cutting device and thereby to determinethe length of the cut candles. 9. In a machine for finishing candles,thecombination of a die carrier having a multiplicity of vertical heatedsockets, a carriage movable vertically toward and from the die carrier,and means on the carriage for suspending a multiplicity of candles invertical alinement with said sockets whereby the downward movement ofthe carriage will cause the lower ends of the candles to engage in saidsockets for finishing purposes. 10. In a candle finishing machine, a diecarrier having a multiplicity of sockets actively disposed in a verticalposition, a carriage movable vertically toward and from the die carrier,adjustable means on the carriage for suspending a-multiplicity ofcandles in vertical alinement with said sockets to cause. their lowerends to enter the sockets when the carria e is lowered, and means forheating the soc ets.

11. In a candle finishing machine, a die carrier having a multiplicityof sockets actively disposed in a vertical position, a carriage movablevertically toward and from the die carrier, adjustable means on the carti vely disposed in a vertical position, a, certhereof to permit theescape of molten cen- 10 riage movable vertically toward and from (Hematerial therefrom. the die carrier, adjustable means on. the car Inwitnes s whereof I have hereunto set Silage for suspending a multiililicityd of (133 11 my hand 1 1118 10th day of April 1922.

es invertical alinement'wit sai soc efs to cause their lower enils toenter the sock- B T GROSSMANN' ets when the carriage is lowered, andmeans Witnesses: for heating the sockets, .seid sockets having WILLIAMC. KREUZER, drainage openings near the upper ends ELLEN BRADENBURGH.

